Floro, Titans Cruise to 7-2 Win over Matadors

Fullerton, Calif. - Dylan Floro pitched a complete-game seven hitter Friday night to lead No. 13 Cal State Fullerton (16-9) to a 7-2 victory over visiting Cal State Northridge (11-14) to open Big West Conference action at Goodwin Field.

Richy Pedroza, Carlos Lopez and Chad Wallach had three hits apiece to pace a 12-hit Titan attack against the Matadors that again consisted of all singles. Fullerton's last 31 hits have consisted of the one-base variety.

Floro pitched the Titans' first complete game of the year using just 116 pitches to improve to 4-2 on the year. He struck out a career high nine Matadors without issuing a walk. He had a five-hit shutout working into the ninth when a couple of hits and a couple of errors led to Northridge's two runs. Floro retired 16 of 17 batters from the first through the sixth innings including 10 in a row from the third to the sixth.

Vincent Roberts fell to 0-4 after allowing the Titans first five runs on nine hits over four innings of work. Reliever Brandon Warner was touched for two runs on three hits in three innings.

Fullerton took the lead for good in the bottom of the first. Pedroza singled and went to second on a throwing error by the catcher on a pick-off attempt, moved to third on an Anthony Trajano single to right and scored as Michael Lorenzen bounced into a double play.

The Titans added another in the third on a bases loaded walk to Ivory Thomas before breaking it open for Floro with a three-run fourth. Lopez drove in two with a ball hit just inside the first base bag and off first baseman Marty Bowan's glove for hit No. 3. And then Roberts wild pitched the third run of the inning home a batter later.

Michael Lorenzen sacrificed a run home with a fly ball to left to make it 6-0 in the sixth inning and then Chad Wallach brought home the seventh and final Titan run an inning later with a bunt single that scored J.D. Davis (aboard on an error) from third.

Todd Eskelin singled with one out in the top of the ninth and went to second when Lorenzen's over-aggressive throw trying to back-pick the runner from first went wild. Pinch-hitter Nate Ring promptly skipped a ball just inside first base and down the line for a double to wreck the shutout and later scored when Chad Wallach's throw to first on the would-be last out of the game (a strikeout) sailed out of Lopez's reach at first.

Floro allowed just one earned run on the night and dropped his ERA from 2.51 to 2.25.

Lopez continued his hot hitting and extended his team-best hitting streak to 10 games. He saw his batting average go up 15 points to .385 with a 3-for-4 night. Lorenzen (7) and Trajano (6) also extended their hitting streaks Friday night.